Pneumatic-despatch apparatus.



J. T. COWLEY.

PNEUMATIC DESPATCH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I6- I9I5.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

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JAMES T. COWLEY, 0F MINOT, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSGNOR TO THE LAMSON COMPANY,

0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, CORPORATION 0F NEW JERSEY.

PNEUMATIC-DESPATCH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters .'Eatent.

Patented Der". 12, 1916.

Application filed February 16, 1915. Serial No. 8,601.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, JAMES T. COWLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minot, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pneumatic-Despatch Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to pneumatic despatch apparatus and more particularly to an improved power control device for such apparatus. y

lt has for one of its objects, as applied to systems in which there is a timing device which determines the length of time that a carrier transmitting flow of air shall occur through the system, to provide means Whereby such timing device may not `be permitted to under time in a manner which frequently happens and which sometimes results also in the non-delivery of a carrier.

A further obj ect of the present invention, is to provide means for more positively controlling a valve or the like which controls the flow of said carrier transmitting flow of air.

rlhese and other objects of my invention will be hereinafter referred to and the novel elements and combination of means whereby said objects may be attained will be more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and in which like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views, l have exemplied a preferred embodiment of my invention; but as I am aware of various changes and modifications which may be made herein without departing from the spirit of my invention, I desire to be limited only by the scope of said claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a portion of a pneumatic despatch system embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical median section of a valve and the controlling means therefor which constitute elements of my invention and as such are diagrammatically represented in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the valve casing; and Fig. 4 is a section taken on line lV-lV of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 there is shown a line of transmission tubing which has been designated 1.

ln the present case the 'system selected by way of exemplication is of the vacuum or exhaust type and accordingly an exhaust pipe 2 is extended downwardly from the left hand end of the pipe 1 to a casing 3 in which is the valve L shown in Fig. 2. A further section of the exhaust pipe connects the lower extremity of this casing to 'a vacuum drum 5 from which the air may be exhausted in any manner desired. The valve 4: may be pivoted in the casing 3 as at 6 and a spring 7 normally holds this valve in its closed position. The valve is preferably provided with a leather facing such as that designated 8, and it also has pivoted thereto as at 9 a link 10 the other extremity of which may be connected as at 11 with the head 12 of a stem or rod 13. rlhe latter is slidably mounted or movable in the direction of its length, through the hub 14- which is preferably provided on the web 15 which constitutes one wall of the chamber 16 which is below the valve t and is at all times in communication with the vacuum drum 5. The stem 13 may be shouldered by turning down the right hand extremity thereof as at 13 and a sleeve 17 is secured upon the reduced portion of the stem adjacent this shoulder, as by means of a pin 18.

As shown in Fig. 2, the right hand end of the sleeve 17 may be iianged to hold in position a plate 19 the edge of which is outwardly turned or dished as shown. A similar plate 2O is also mounted upon the sleeve 17 and the right hand extremity of the latter may be threaded to receive a nut 2l, by means of which a diaphragm 22, of prepared fabric, rubber or the like, may be clamped between the plates 19 and 20. The periphery of this diaphragm may be clamped between the flange of the dish shaped web 15 and a cover element 23, as by means of bolts 24 or the like.

IThe element 23 has therein a sleeve 24,- through which slides the reduced portion of the stem, 13 and, as shown in Fig. 2 and further in Fig. 4;, a series of holes 25 extend through the sleeve 241 from one side thereof to the other, parallel to the stem of the valve; so that the chamber 26, to the right of the diaphragm 22, is at all times in communication with a chamber 27, which may for convenience be termed the latch chamber. This chamber comprises a pocket in the outer side of the cover element 23, and a recess in a cap 28, within which recess rides the right hand extremity of the stem.

Pivoted at l29 within the chamber 27 is a latch 30, provided with a weighted portion 30 which tends to cause said latch to rotate clockwise, as viewed in Fig. 2. As best shown in Fig. 4, this latch is provided with a blade like part 31 which may be securedv to the latch body by means, for example, of screws 32. Above this latch is a valve 33 which is adapted to be raised by the solenoid 34; the core of the latter being preferably integrally connected to the valve 33. At the lower extremity of the plunger like valve 1s a stem like extension 34 around which and at the bottom of the valve is a washer 35 of leather or the like, which enables the valve to make a tight closure. l/Vhen the valve. 33 is in its closed position, the stem or extension 34 thereof holds the Vblade 31 to the left, as viewed in Fig. 2; but when the solenoid 34 is energized, valve 33 is thereby raised and its extension 34 clears the blade 31, whereupon the latch rotates clockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 by reason lof its weighted portions 30. The blade 31 is now interposed beneath the 'extension 34; and this prevents the valve from resuming its closed position. The opening of the valve 33, permits air to escape from the tank of compressed air into the chamber 27 and then through ports 25 into the chamber 26. As the pressure rises at this latter chamber, the diaphragm is driven to the left, until it occupies the position in which it is shown in dottedlines in Fig. 2. Correspondingly of course, the valve 4 will 'move to its dotted line position and atmospheric pressure will establish a carrier propelling current of air through the transit tube 1, pipe 2 and chamber 16 to the 'vacuum drum. A full opening of the valve 4 and a consequent disposition of the diaphragm 22 in its extreme left hand position, is thus assured by the latching upv of the valve 33, in the manner above described. Now, upon the right hand extremity of the reduced portion of the stem 13 there is firmly mounted a tripping head or collar 36, which when the stem 13 has moved to almost the end of its left hand travel, engages the latch 30 and and rotates it counter-clockwifse, against the action 'of its weighted parts 30'.. -This frees l the valve 33, which will thereupon normally fall' to its closed position. This counterclockwise rotation of the latch by the tripping head 36 whereby to release the valve 33, only occurs, however, 'when the diaphragm 32 has nearly reached its most left hand position, so that even if the solenoid l34 be energized but momentarily, it is 'certain that the diaphragm 22 and valve 4 will each be rope'rly moved.

he chamber 26 is provided with an exhaust conduit 37,the flow of air through which is controlled by a valve 38, which for convenience may be termed a timing valve. This latter may be, for example, a needle valve and may have a reduced end around which is a spring 39 which tends to drive the valve to its seat. The valve head il-0 shoulders against a sleeve 41, threaded into the casing part 23; so that it is possible to nicely adjust the valve 38 whereby to permit just the Adesired seepage of air therepast. After the valve 33 has closed in the manner above described, the air trapped in the chamber 26 slowly escapes past the valve 38 and permits the spring 7 to return the valve 4 and diaphragm 22 -to their normal positions.

The solenoid 34 may of course be electrically energized or deenergized in any suitable ni'anner; but I prefer to extend a lead or wire 42 to a circuit making device, at, for example, station A; while a second lead 43 may extend vto the battery 44 and from thence again to said contact or circuit making device. The introduction of a carrier into the tube 1 at station A for despatch to station B may be caused, if desired, to complete the circuit and thereby effect the enel'- gization vof the solenoid 34. Even though the closure of contact at station A be but momentary and as such, insufiieient to permit the compressed air to drive the diaphragm 22 completely to the left, nevertheless, the latch 30 will, as soon as the valve 33 has been raised by the solenoid2 swing clockwise in the manner above described and thereby prevent the closure 'of the valve until the diaphragm and its associated parts have almost fully completed their movements to the left. The fact, too, that these parts are caused to travel by compressed air, which may be of any desi-'red pressure, insures a prompt opening of the valve 4, so that no loss of time may be occasioned in the despatch of a carrier from the station A. The means for establishing a carrier transmitting How of air from station A to station B is therefore both positive and reliable in action, while the time allotted for the transmission of a carrier from one to the other of these stations may be invariably and dependably attained.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is zl. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of a transit tube, a valve for controlling the fiow of air therethrough, means movable by pressure fluid for opening said valve, a secondary valve for controlling the admission of pressure fluid to said last mentioned means, electrical means for actuating said secondary valve, a latch to co-'act with said secondary valve for insuring that the latter shall remain open, when once actuated by said electrical means, even when the latter is but momentarily energized, for a time suiicient to enable the pressure iuid to displace the means controlled thereby to the limit of its travel, and means controlled by said first mentioned means for rendering said latch inoperative after the lapse of said time.

2. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of a transit tube, a valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, a diaphragm for controlling said valve, a source of compressed air, connections for causing` said compressed air to displace this diaphragm whereby to open said valve, a secondary valve for controlling said connections, a latch for holding said valve in its open position, and means controlled by said diaphragm for actuating said latch to release said valve.

3. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of a transit tube, a valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, a diaphragm for controlling said valve, a source of compressed air, connections for causing said compressed air to displace this diaphragm whereby to open said valve, a secondary valve for controlling said connections, electrically controlled means for opening said secondary valve, a latch for holding said valve in its open position, and means controlled by said diaphragm for actuating said latch to release said valve.

4. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of a transit tube, a valve for controlling the flow of air therethrough, a member movable by compressed air for controlling said valve, connections to supply compressed air to said member and to form a chamber upon one side thereof, a pilot valve for controlling said connections, and

having a tendency to move back into a determined position when displaced from the latter, means for controlling said valve from a point along said tube and adjacent the despatching terminal thereof to move said pilot valve out of said determined position, means to positively hold said pilot valve in the position in which it is placed by the controlling means therefor, means controlled by said member for releasing said pilot valve from said holding means, and means to permit of the escape of compressed air from said chamber at a determined rate to determine the time during which said first mentioned valve shall remain open.

5. In pneumatic despatch apparatus, the combination of' av transit tube, a valve for controlling the iow of air therethrough, mechanism for opening and closing said valve, a source of compressed air, means for causing an actuation of said mechanism in one direction by compressed air from said source, a positively acting device a part of which has a tendency for movement 1n a determined direction to co-act with said last mentioned means to insure a full movement of said mechanism in said last mentioned direction, means for re-setting said device after a movement thereof in said direction, and means for timing the return movement of said mechanism.

In testimony whereof I have aiiiXed my signature in the presence of two witnesses. Y

JAMES T. COWLEY.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. DODGE, WILLLAM A. GILGHRIs'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

